Behind the Whistle is from Karen Henning Colby Coach

In my opinion, student-athletes are in a unique situation because they are being challenged in the classroom and on the field. They are learning to deal with a variety of people, balancing multiple demands on their time, and performing in pressure situations. Those student-athletes who have embraced these challenges are extremely prepared for the future. I think the three traits that not only predict success after college, but also success during college are:

1. Passion – Student-athletes who follow their passion, who know who they are and are comfortable with who they are, will live a fulfilling successful life. Passion allows you to focus on what you want to accomplish with everything you have. When your heart leads you, you will do what you love and love what you do. It will give you purpose, and having purpose is a key to success.
2. Determination – Student-athletes who want something bad enough are willing to work tirelessly to get it. Through sport, you often learn that nothing will be handed to you and if you want it, you are going to have to earn it. Wanting it will never be enough, wanting it and having the determination to work for it are what drives results.
3. Being a resilient optimist – Passionate and determined people will face adversity. Adversity is often when people quit. However, embracing the challenges, seeing the obstacles, and finding solutions are key. Those student-athletes who never give up, who are never defeated, always see the light. They know how to dig deeper and find a way over, under, around, or through whatever obstacle may lie in their way. A resilient optimist gains confidence through adversity, and it will often lead to success.

Behind the Whistle is from Penn State coach Missy Doherty:

"ADVERSITY. How do you deal with it? 

Do you keep changing the environment around the individual, or does the individual have the ability to change in order to maximize their environment? This is so hard as a parent, because I want to give my children the best!  But as a coach, I have the constant reminder that my young boys have to deal with disappointment. They get stronger when they can solve some of their own problems. If they can be a chameleon and find the ways to get the most out of the environment around them, they will learn how to be stronger individuals. The strongest athletes I’ve encountered had great self-awareness for the things they could improve themselves, and they didn’t waste their time blaming their struggles on everything else around them."